A FAMILY have been hit with a £51,000 care home bill for their late dad - even though he was put there by health chiefs because of a lack of beds in his local hospital.

Linda Riddell, 62, and brother Ian O’Donnell, 47, were told dad William O’Donnell was being taken to Dun Berisay care home in Stornoway for emergency care.

A local nurse transferred him there because Western Isles Hospital had no space for him.

At the time, Linda believed NHS Western Isles would be responsible for the cost because they had admitted him to the home.

But now she claims they have washed their hands of the case, and the family are being chased by the council for the money.

Linda, from Cumbernauld, said: “At no point did we put my dad into that care home. It was the health board that put him there because of the lack of beds in the hospital.

“They should be taking responsibility because of their inability to take him in.

“We cannot fault the care he received while was in the care home.

“But we feel that the NHS should pay for this because the placement was made by them, not us.

“They have been passing the buck for the last couple of years.

William O'Donnell was in a Stornoway care home when his condition worsened (Image: Mark Anderson)

“And now the council are now asking for £51,000 from us.”

William was recovering from a heart attack in 2009 when a visiting nurse and doctor told the family he needed immediate hospital care.

They were told that they were having to place William into Dun Berisay as there were no beds available for him in Stornoway Hospital.

William was in the home when he contracted lung cancer, and he was still being cared for there in 2011 when he passed away.

Linda said: “This has been a terrible time for the family and having this hanging over our heads has made it worse.

“We feel like we are being held to ransom. “It is ridiculous. We have been fighting this case for so many years now and we just want it sorted out.”

NHS Western Isles would not comment on the bill, saying the matter is between the family and the council.

A spokeswoman for NHS Western Isles said: “We can confirm that there have been no circumstances under which any patient requiring emergency admission to the Western Isles Hospital for healthcare has been denied admission to hospital.

“Any matter that relates to outstanding fees in terms of care home provision is an issue between the family concerned and the local authority, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar.

"It would not be appropriate for the Health Board to comment on that.”